The straight dope on what's going on in Hip-Hop, Media and Entertainment

Aug 1, 2003

If you or any of your loved ones have been served with a subpoena from the RIAA, it could be because of a telltale Busta Rhymes track in your swapping folder. Since the RIAA began its war on file-swapping weeks ago, a common thread has emerged between a large number of the almost 1000 offenders -- possession of Busta's hit song "Pass The Courvouisier." Busta's track has appeared in 30% of the subpoenas with Ludacris coming in behind him. According to Slyck.com, Busta's name in combination with an additional artist is triggering the bot that then seeks and identifies swappers.

The RIAA has commissioned heavy hitter cyber-sleuths for the witch-hunt, recently nabbing Jesse Jordan, a 19-year-old college student who became one of the first to be hit with a lawsuit. Jordan settled his case by paying $12,000 to the RIAA. Despite the legal drama, a recent survey of file swappers indicate that more than 75% are defiant, basically telling the RIAA they "ain't never scared." Meanwhile, a Senate inquiry has been launched into the RIAA's "excessive, shotgun approach" which they fear "could potentially cause injury and harm to innocent people who may have simply been victims of circumstance."